7 Warning Signs of Overactive Bladder

Symptoms of Overactive Bladder

Are your bathroom needs taking up too much of your attention? Urinating is such a mundane aspect of daily life – that is, until your bladder begins to act up. A sudden need to go, lots of nighttime visits to the toilet or an embarrassing leak can be signals that the muscles around your bladder are misfiring, and will likely need some help to get back on track. These are all signs of OAB.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is not uncommon, but it’s also not normal, although it’s usually pretty easily treated and often reversed with behavioural strategies or medication. However, since other conditions can mimic the symptoms of OAB, it’s important to get these bladder symptoms checked out as soon as you can, in order to rule out more serious problems and get treatment underway.

1. A Feeling of Urgency

One of the hallmarks of overactive bladder is an urgent need to “go.” You could be sitting, walking, eating, or doing absolutely nothing when that sudden urge strikes – an unpredictable problem that can lead to a fair bit of anxiety and nervousness in your daily life. This type of bladder issue is known as urge incontinence, and it’s one of the most common forms of overactive bladder, occurring in women and in men. It doesn’t always involve leaking urine, but often the urge comes anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes before the bladder begins to empty (whether or not you’ve made it to the toilet in time).